Comments on: Yes, We Have an Agreement! http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/ HoosierAccess.com Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:34:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Joel Harris http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2058 Joel Harris Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:49:39 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2058 Forgive me if I am overly bashing local governments. BUT, any LOIT will wait until Localities (i.e. the L in LOIT) Opt (i.e. the O in LOIT) to increase it. If you fear that they will opt to increase it, now is the time to be talking with your local controlling boards to let them know that it will be unacceptable. Now is the time to be organizing to PREVENT these increases rather than waiting for increases to get mad about. Your local governments should easily be able to handle the caps given that school operating budgets, pre-1977 pensions, and welfare will be funded by the state rather than through property taxes. Forgive me if I am overly bashing local governments. BUT, any LOIT will wait until Localities (i.e. the L in LOIT) Opt (i.e. the O in LOIT) to increase it.

If you fear that they will opt to increase it, now is the time to be talking with your local controlling boards to let them know that it will be unacceptable. Now is the time to be organizing to PREVENT these increases rather than waiting for increases to get mad about.

Your local governments should easily be able to handle the caps given that school operating budgets, pre-1977 pensions, and welfare will be funded by the state rather than through property taxes.

]]> By: Anonymous http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2057 Anonymous Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:14:17 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2057 Joel, You are correct, April 1 i believe, but it will be the loit increases that will take some time, certainly after the primaries and most likely not before the general in November. That is what the members in the General Assembly that face primary challenges and incumbents in the general are banking on. "Let's hope people don't realize the full effect on everyone until after we get re-elected." Afterall isn't that what it is all about for incumbants? Joel,
You are correct, April 1 i believe, but it will be the loit increases that will take some time, certainly after the primaries and most likely not before the general in November. That is what the members in the General Assembly that face primary challenges and incumbents in the general are banking on. “Let’s hope people don’t realize the full effect on everyone until after we get re-elected.” Afterall isn’t that what it is all about for incumbants?

]]> By: Josh Gillespie http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2056 Josh Gillespie Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:07:38 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2056 I believe "immediately" means April 1. I could be wrong, but I remember hearing that date thrown around in regards to the property tax legislation. I should have a more solid date for you later in the day. I believe “immediately” means April 1. I could be wrong, but I remember hearing that date thrown around in regards to the property tax legislation. I should have a more solid date for you later in the day.

]]> By: Joel Harris http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2055 Joel Harris Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:04:23 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2055 My understanding is that the sales tax increase will take place "immediately" (I have no idea what that means, but certainly before the election). My understanding is that the sales tax increase will take place “immediately” (I have no idea what that means, but certainly before the election).

]]> By: Anonymous http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2054 Anonymous Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:44:21 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2054 You are correct, this is property tax relief, but not tax relief. I have no problem if they were raising sales and imcome taxes if it eliminated my property taxes. The General Assmbly and the Gov. are hoping people see the property tax relief before the election and hope most don't realize the tax increase until after the election. While i believe the governor is safe, some key members of the Genreal Assembly may not be as lucky. You are correct, this is property tax relief, but not tax relief. I have no problem if they were raising sales and imcome taxes if it eliminated my property taxes. The General Assmbly and the Gov. are hoping people see the property tax relief before the election and hope most don’t realize the tax increase until after the election. While i believe the governor is safe, some key members of the Genreal Assembly may not be as lucky.

]]> By: Joel Harris http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2053 Joel Harris Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:36:44 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2053 With the outcry for Property Tax relief, what does anyone think will happen? THIS IS CRAZY. Property tax relief only means moving taxes from one category to another (i.e. from property taxes to sales and income taxes). EVERYONE KNEW THIS FROM DAY ONE. Controlling spending is, for better or worse, a separate issue. With the outcry for Property Tax relief, what does anyone think will happen?

THIS IS CRAZY.

Property tax relief only means moving taxes from one category to another (i.e. from property taxes to sales and income taxes). EVERYONE KNEW THIS FROM DAY ONE.

Controlling spending is, for better or worse, a separate issue.

]]> By: Anonymous http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2052 Anonymous Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:35:30 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2052 Joel, You have a good point on the elderly, and this bill will help them out. Unfortunately, for most people, especially the middle class, will experience a tax increase from this bill. I consider myself in the middle class, and i will see a net increase in my taxes by $237, not including any raise i get this year and not including the increased sales taxes i will be paying. A direct result in this bill. There is a lot of frustration with this bill and most people realize this. I would guess most of the members of the General Assembly who either have primary opponents or general election opponents will be in trouble. This bill will not save them like they were hoping. Joel,

You have a good point on the elderly, and this bill will help them out. Unfortunately, for most people, especially the middle class, will experience a tax increase from this bill. I consider myself in the middle class, and i will see a net increase in my taxes by $237, not including any raise i get this year and not including the increased sales taxes i will be paying. A direct result in this bill. There is a lot of frustration with this bill and most people realize this. I would guess most of the members of the General Assembly who either have primary opponents or general election opponents will be in trouble. This bill will not save them like they were hoping.

]]> By: Joel Harris http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2049 Joel Harris Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:41:27 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2049 Another point. There was a huge push for reduction or elimination of property taxes. Indianapolis largely voted out a mayor due to this issue. Any time you change from one tax method to another, some people will pay more. Some will pay less. I believe that the goal was to help the poorer homeowners who could not afford their property taxes. I am guessing that we are arguing that a household making more than $75,000 per year is deemed more able to pay those taxes than the elderly retired folk in an otherwise paid-for house. It seems like this bill is making that happen. Another point. There was a huge push for reduction or elimination of property taxes. Indianapolis largely voted out a mayor due to this issue.

Any time you change from one tax method to another, some people will pay more. Some will pay less. I believe that the goal was to help the poorer homeowners who could not afford their property taxes. I am guessing that we are arguing that a household making more than $75,000 per year is deemed more able to pay those taxes than the elderly retired folk in an otherwise paid-for house.

It seems like this bill is making that happen.

]]> By: Joel Harris http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2048 Joel Harris Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:32:42 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2048 Let's get this straight here. Property taxes pay for local government. Period. The state has been keeping these rates artificially low for the better part of 30 years by a patchwork of subsidizing property taxes. The current crisis was caused by the state reducing the amount of subsidizing and localities suddenly seeing what the localities are spending. Local governments will have plenty of funds. Schools will have plenty of funds. It just happens that this will be less than what they are currently throwing into deep dark holes. The lesson to be learned with this is very simple: our governments (local, state and federal) need to get their hands around the profligate spending. Once again. It is time to get to work. Let’s get this straight here. Property taxes pay for local government. Period. The state has been keeping these rates artificially low for the better part of 30 years by a patchwork of subsidizing property taxes.

The current crisis was caused by the state reducing the amount of subsidizing and localities suddenly seeing what the localities are spending.

Local governments will have plenty of funds. Schools will have plenty of funds. It just happens that this will be less than what they are currently throwing into deep dark holes.

The lesson to be learned with this is very simple: our governments (local, state and federal) need to get their hands around the profligate spending.

Once again. It is time to get to work.

]]> By: Ian http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2046 Ian Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:10:20 +0000 http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/03/13/yes-we-have-an-agreement/#comment-2046 Joel, While state government would love to put the blame on local government, and they do deserve part of the blame, the fact remains the caps will leave local goverments with a short fall of funds. The General Assembly put the caps into law and made the rules for the local government. So while you and the General Assembly would love to push the blame to local government, the fact remains the General Assembly passed the loit and local governments will implement it. And looking at Anonymous's calculations, he will get a tax increase contributed directly to the General Assembly. Joel,
While state government would love to put the blame on local government, and they do deserve part of the blame, the fact remains the caps will leave local goverments with a short fall of funds. The General Assembly put the caps into law and made the rules for the local government. So while you and the General Assembly would love to push the blame to local government, the fact remains the General Assembly passed the loit and local governments will implement it. And looking at Anonymous’s calculations, he will get a tax increase contributed directly to the General Assembly.

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